2011 NAMAQUALAND FLOWERS
& BOLAND TRAIN TOUR

Departing from Durban for Johannesburg
Flight, Train & Bus - 7 Days

JB Train Tours invite you to join us on our annual 7-day flight & train tours to the beautiful Namaqualand & Boland. It is at the end of the rainy season and the flowers will be in its splendid beauty. There is nothing else like this natural phenomenon.

The previous five flower seasons, but one, were of the very best in recent years. The flowers were in abundance, the variety and colours almost unlimited, the ‘veld’ lush and the weather good. The 2011 flower season promises to be as good as well.

We are going to take you to places where tour groups normally don’t go. Just think about places like the Worcester Karoo Park, Tulbagh (‘Paddagang’), Paternoster and Bird Island.

Do some wine tasting and take pictures of a magnificent waterfall. Walk in the ‘veld’ with flowers from horizon to horizon. Bend your knees and discover small and tiny flowers. Enjoy the grace of God.

You’ll fly from Durban to Jo’burg and join the train tour at the JHB Railway station.

This year we’ll travel again on the Trans Karoo Tourist Class train*, sleep in top notch hotels and travel by luxury charter bus before joining the train again. Passengers living in KZN will fly from Durban to Jo’burg to join the train tour. (We had to make this change, because the Trans Orange Tourist Class train between Durban and Cape Town was suspended and permanently cancelled in August 2010).

Please note that we have another 5-day Namaqualand Flower tour departing from Durban,  flying directly to Cape Town to join the train tour passengers in Worcester. Both tours in Namaqualand are exactly the same. Enquire with us for details.

Are you tired of driving, looking for accommodation and worrying about the logistics? We’ll take you there. When travelling by train, you don’t have to worry about increasing petrol prices, tollgate fees, heavy traffic, driving back or sitting with stiff legs in your car. It is so much easier, very safe and VERY price competitive.

In 2003 we’ve hosted two train tours to the daisies. In 2011 we’ll be hosting 18 train tours to the ‘daisies’! Departing from both Jo’burg and Durban. Every year the numbers are growing and all the tours are fully booked. We’ll keep the groups again small, hence it is limited to 50 passengers per tour. Book NOW!

This year we’ll be hosting three train tours from Jo’burg on the upmarket Premier Classe train to the flowers. The inaugural tour was hosted in 2010 and it was a huge success. The Motorbike-on-Train tour to the Flowers will be hosted as well again in 2011. Enquire with us for details about these tours.

For the past four years the best flowers were seen during late July & early August. Many people thinks that the ‘Namaqualand Flower’ is a Spring flower! The earlier the better!

*Transnet has ceased ALL charter holiday trains as from 1 January 2007.

Baie mense sê al baie jare dat hulle graag na die blomme in Namakwaland wil gaan kyk. DOEN dit nou! Dit bly ‘n heerlike voorreg om deur hierdie geweste van die land te ry. Die mense is spesiaal (die sout van die aarde), die natuur is pragtig, terwyl die kontreikos besonders is. Gaan kyk reeds vroeg in Augustus na die blomme.

Vanjaar wyk ons so ‘n bietjie van die beproefde resep af en besoek ‘n klompie minder bekende, en dalk mooier, bestemmings. Moet dit nie mis nie. Bring vriende en familie saam. Vertel die kuierklub om saam te reis. Bespreek NOU!

Name of tour Namaqualand Flowers & Boland Train Tour - from Durban via JHB

Tour dates & Number

Friday - Thursday 12 - 18 Aug NF 1 DFT Fully booked
Sunday - Saturday 14 – 20 Aug NF 2 DFT Fully booked
Friday - Thursday 19 – 25 Aug NF 3 DFT Fully booked
Sunday - Saturday 21 – 27 Aug NF 4 DFT Fully booked
Friday - Thursday 26 Aug – 1 Sep NF 5 DFT Fully booked
Monday - Sunday 29 Aug – 4 Sep NF 6 DFT Fully booked
Friday - Thursday 2 – 8 Sep NF 7 DFT Fully booked
Sunday - Saturday 4 – 10 Sep NF 8 DFT
Friday - Thursday 9 – 15 Sep NF 9 DFT
Sunday - Saturday 11 – 17 Sep NF 10 DFT

All these tours are seven days long

Flight departure times

DBN to JHB +-07:30 to 08:45 Day 1
JHB to DBN 20:50 to 22:00 Day 7

Report at 06:00 at King Shaka Airport outside Durban. Your flight details will be availed to you closer to the departure date. Luggage is limited to 20 Kg and 7 Kg hand luggage.

Departure times

Johannesburg 10:30 Platform 16 Day 1
Worcester 15:50 Platform 1 Day 6

Arrival times

Worcester 09:20 Platform 1 Day 2
Johannesburg 15:20 Platform 16 Day 7

Tour price

Compartment (4-Bed) Price per Person
   
4 Persons per Compartment
But only 2 Persons per Hotel Room		 R6800
   
3 Persons per Compartment
& 2/1 Persons per Hotel Room 		R7620
   
2 Persons per Compartment
& same 2 Persons per Hotel Room		 R7800
   
Coupe (2-Bed) Price per Person
   
2 Persons per Coupe
& same 2 Persons per Hotel Room		 R7100
   
1 Person per Coupe
& 1 Person per Hotel Room		 R8830

Children (2 – 9 years) will pay R400 per child less than the above tour price. Children younger than 2 years will travel free of charge if sharing a bed and seat on bus & flight with parent

Deposit

A R2000 per person non-refundable deposit will secure your place. The balance must be paid by latest six weeks before departure date. If NOT paid, your place will be cancelled automatically. Your flight ticket is paid in advance with this deposit.

Note

JB Train Tours book this place on the flight on behalf of the passenger and is not responsible for any losses, cancellations, delays, et al; incurred before, during or after the flight.

Included in the price

Return flight (DBN/JHB) & train trip (JHB/CPT), return transfer from ORTIA (JHB Airport) to JHB Railway station, accommodation in reputable hotels or lodges, meals, bus transport, tour guide and excursions as mentioned in the itinerary.

Meals

Two good meals per day (breakfast and dinner) are served and are included in the price.

Accommodation

We stay for 2 nights at Club Mykonos or a similar Hotel and another two nights at Klawer Hotel. Two nighst are spent on the train.

Excluded from the tour price

Entry fees at tourist destinations not mentioned in the itinerary, personal expenses, meals not mentioned, Comprehensive Travel Insurance and gratuities.

Route

The train route goes from Johannesburg via Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp to Kimberley, Beaufort West and Worcester.

The bus route goes from Worcester via the Slanghoek valley, Tulbagh to Langebaan, Clanwilliam, Klawer, Nieuwoudville to Worcester.

BOOK NOW!

Travel greetings

Johan Badenhorst &
The JB Train Tours Team

Running times of the train

Johannesburg - Cape Town - Johannesburg
Train Station Arrival Departure Train Station Arrival Departure
Johannesburg   12:30 day 1 Cape Town   10:00 day 6
Krugersdorp 13:09 day 1 13:14 day 1 Bellville 10:25 day 6 10:35 day 6
Potchefstroom 15:16 day 1 15:29 day 1 Hugenot 11:15 day 6 11:19 day 6
Klerksdorp 16:09 day 1 16:25 day 1 Wellington 11:30 day 6 11:36 day 6
Christiana 19:11 day 1 19:16 day 1 Worcester 13:10 day 6 13:30 day 6
Warrenton 19:49 day 1 19:55 day 1 Matjiesfontein 15:31 day 6 15:36 day 6
Kimberley 20:54 day 1 21:10 day 1 Laingsburg 16:00 day 6 16:10 day 6
De Aar 01:18 day 2 01:35 day 2 Beaufort west 19:25 day 6 19:50 day 6
Hutchinson 03:30 day 2 03:35 day 2 Hutchinson 21:34 day 6 21:39 day 6
Beaufort West 09:05 day 2 09:15 day 2 De Aar 23:25 day 6 23:45 day 6
Laingsburg 06:27 day 2 06:47 day 2 Kimberley 03:32 day 7 03:46 day 7
Matjiesfontein 09:38 day 2 09:43 day 2 Warrenton 04:43 day 7 04:48 day 7
Worcester 11:50 day 2 12:05 day 2 Christiana 05:16 day 7 05:21 day 7
Wellington 13:50 day 2 13:54 day 2 Klerksdorp 08:14 day 7 08:26 day 7
Hugenot 14:05 day 2 14:09 day 2 Potchefstroom 09:08 day 7 09:13 day 7
Bellville 14:50 day 2 15:00 day 2 Krugersdorp 11:20 day 7 11:25 day 7
Cape Town 15:30 day 2   Johannesburg 12:16 day 7  
Running times are not guaranteed

 

Provisional PROGRAMME

2011 Namaqualand Flowers & Boland Train Tour

Day 1 Depart from King Shaka Airport outside Durban to ORTIA (JHB). Transfer from ORTIA to JHB Railway station. On arrival at the station you’ll enjoy some coffee or tea. Board the train, unpack, make yourself comfortable and start enjoying the trip. The tour guide will visit you in your compartment and you can start preparing for your welcome dinner. The train travels overnight.
   
Day 2 We travel across the Great Karoo (never underestimate or ignore the beauty of this vast space) and after breakfast we reach Worcester. We disembark, board the bus and visit the Worcester Karoo Park, then on Slanghoek Valley and historical Tulbagh (‘Paddagang’), picturesque Riebeeck West and finish the day at Langebaan/Saldanha. Dinner will be served. Overnight in the hotel.
   
Day 3

After breakfast we depart by bus to Tietiesbaai, Cape Columbine & Saldanha where the panoramic view from “Hoedjieskop” will be enjoyed. This harbour town is well known for its Military Academy, Steel Plant and terminal for the iron ore railway line from Sishen in the Northern Cape. Enjoy tea at the famous(?) Paternoster Hotel. Some of the best flowers are seen in this area. We’ll find it. Tonight we dine at the “Boesmanland Plaaskombuis”, close to Club Mykonos. We overnight in the same hotel as Day 2.
   
Day 4 After an early breakfast we depart by bus via Velddrift. The changing scenery, from green wheat fields to a multi-coloured kaleidoscope of flowers, reminds one of the “Arts of Nature”. From here we travel to the harbour village of Lamberts Bay. We ascend the Cederberg range, to visit C Louis Leipoldt’s grave and enjoy the view towards the “Hantamberge”. Tonight we sleep in Klawer.
   
Day 5 In Van Rhynsdorp the Kokerboom Nursery is visited briefly. From here we cross the spectacular Van Rhyn’s Pass (ascending 800 metres within 6 kilometres), to reach Nieuwoudtville (the “Ball Plant capital of the world”). This area is known as one of the world’s most exciting flower areas. A lunch is served (local food) at a very reasonable price. The spectacular Nieuwoudville waterfall is visited. Late afternoon we taste some good (and affordable) wines, before enjoying dinner. We sleep again in the same hotel as Day 4.
   
Day 6 After breakfast we’ll depart from Klawer to join the train again in Worcester. Time permitting, we’ll do some afternoon shopping in the capital town (Worcester) of the Boland. The train departs late afternoon after which we’ll travel over the spectacular Hex River Pass on our way to the Karoo. A hearty dinner will be served tonight before our last night’s sleep on the train.
   
Day 7 A last breakfast will be enjoyed on the train before arriving in Gauteng mid afternoon. Pretoria passengers will be transferred by bus from JHB to PTA. KZN passengers will be transferred to ORTIA for flight to DBN.
   
Note Please note that the sequence and contents of the days can and will change due to various reasons.  Please do NOT arrange personal appointments en route.

RESERVATION FORM

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAIN